Introduction to Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Interlibrary Loan allows us to borrow from and lend to other libraries. When K-State Libraries don’t own the item(s) you need, or the items are already checked out by someone else, you can request an interlibrary loan (except for textbooks).

Does it cost?

Although there is a fee for K-State, rarely is it passed onto patrons. If there is a fee or a charge for a special item, you will be notified and asked if you wish to pay the charge.

We do not charge for scanning articles or for shipping materials to distance students and instructors, but you are responsible for the cost of shipping materials back to the library. We will ship physical materials like books and musical scores for distance users. For students serving in the military or students/faculty living overseas, we will ship K-State Libraries' materials to an APO address or other international address. We will not ship borrowed materials from other libraries overseas.

Can I request a textbook through Interlibrary Loan?

Interlibrary Loan does not borrow class-required textbooks from other libraries.

We may have a copy, or an older edition, of your textbook. If we do not own the textbook, it can be purchased from a bookstore.

How do I register for an ILLIAD account?

You can submit Interlibrary Loan requests through our ILLiad system. This system will allow you to not only submit requests, but also to edit them, ask for renewals, and download articles you have requested as PDF files. It is easy to set up an account:

Select the appropriate item under Make a New Request (on the left side of the page)

Fill out the form as completely as you can and click the Submit Request button

Requesting from Google Scholar:

If you’ve found an article on Google Scholar, look for the ‘Get it @KSU’ link on the righthand side. Clicking the link will take you to the result in Search It. If we do not have access, you can choose the “Not Available? Request from Interlibrary Loan” link. If you are not logged in, you’ll be prompted to, and then the form should autopopulate.

After submitting a request, you can check the status of a request by choosing the Illiad Home near the top left. You will be notified at whatever email you provided when you set up the account with further updates. You can also contact Interlibrary Loan directly by calling 785-532-7440 or email ill@ksu.edu.

The library doesn't have the item I need:

You have several options:

If you can wait a few days, request it through our Interlibrary Loan service. If you need only a chapter from the book, you can usually get an electronic copy through Interlibrary Loan in 2-5 days.

Textbooks are an exception: we will not contact other libraries to borrow textbooks that are required reading for a K-State class.

If you are in a hurry, you could check the catalog at the Manhattan Public Library or check other local libraries to see if they have the item you need. You can do this by checking the FirstSearch WorldCat database.

Click on the link above and enter the title of the item you want

Click on the "Libraries Worldwide" link to see other libraries that own this item, starting with those in Kansas

You may not be able to check out the item you need if you do find it at another library, but you could visit the location to view it

You could also try searching for it in Google Books. If the item is older, there might be a full copy of the book online. If it is newer, you can usually still read the table of contents and a few select pages. It is worth a try if you just want to skim the contents.

Document delivery: What is it?

Document delivery is a service provided by Interlibrary Services (ILS) to K-State faculty, staff, and students, for K-State Libraries-owned material. ILS staff will scan and post PDF files for retrieval from your ILLiad account upon e-mail notification. Requests are submitted through your Illiad account.

We will scan:

Articles and one chapter from journals and books in K-State Libraries up to 50 pages in length

Limit of one chapter per book; otherwise, check out K-State Libraries' copy of the book

Articles and short documents from microfiche/microfilm up to 30 pages in length

Allow at least 5 weekdays (Mondays-Fridays) to process your request.

How long does it take to get Interlibrary Loan materials?

Typically, there is a 2-5 day waiting period for electronic items like journal articles or book chapters. Physical materials can take between 3-10 days for us to receive the item on campus. Distance users should expect at least 6-17 days for UPS delivery of the requested item. Be sure to verify your shipping address is up-to-date - if you aren't sure, log in to Illiad, and select "My Account" in the upper right corner.

You should allow plenty of time when making requests. It pays to plan ahead if you need an item by a specific date. Waiting until the last minute to complete research for a project will lower your chances of our interlibrary services being able to meet your deadlines.

Where do I pick up items borrowed through Interlibrary Loan?

You will receive an email when your item is ready to be picked up. If you have requested a book, CD, map or other physical material, it will be waiting for you at the location you specified when you signed up for your ILLiad account - either Library Help on the 2nd floor of Hale Library, the Veterinary Medical Library, or K-State at the Polytechnic Library.

If you have requested an electronic article or book chapter, log into your ILLiad account to retrieve a copy of it. Once logged in, under "Request History" click on Past Requests to download or print a copy of your previous request. You can also select an item and select "Clone Request" to request an item again.

How can I renew an Interlibrary Loan?

Locate the loan to renew, under "Checked Out Items", and verify that it says "yes" in the "Renewal Allowed?" column.

If renewable, you may request renewals before the due date.

When requesting a renewal, you'll receive a tentative two-week renewal. The lending library may give you a longer or shorter renewal, or occasionally will not approve the renewal. You will be notified by email of the lending library's response.

To submit the renewal request, click on "Renewals," near the top of the screen. If "Renew Request" is not on the screen, either the loan is not renewable or you are blocked due to overdue items.

Contact Information

Miscellaneous Questions

Can non-university users use Interlibrary Loan services?

No, please contact your local public library for this service.

Why does the Interlibrary Loan department close for a week in December?

Every year, Interlibrary Loan closes for a week around the holidays. You can expect the office to be closed roughly between Christmas (December 25th) and New Year's (January 1st). Interlibrary Loan will post the closed dates on ILLiad, so when you place a request, you can easily see the dates. Interlibrary Loan closes for a week because the majority of libraries we borrow material from close too. This means that even if our office stayed open, there's no one on the other end to receive our request and send us materials.

You can still submit Interlibrary Loan requests and they'll be processed when the office reopens in early January. Document delivery requests will take a little longer to process when the office opens due to the backlog. If you have a pressing need for a quick turnaround, be sure to indicate this when you place your request. You may still pick up and return your Interlibrary Loan materials at Library Help on Hale Library's 2nd floor, if that is where you usually pick up your material.

If a K-State Libraries' book is checked out, can I request a copy through Interlibrary Loan?
Yes.

What if I receive an incomplete or unreadable copy?
If the pages are unreadable, missing, or wrong, save or print what you received because your original PDF file will be gone once we request a re-send. To request a new copy, contact Interlibrary Services (785-532-7440) and tell us the Transaction Number of the request and which page(s) was omitted or unreadable.

Can I borrow or purchase a copy of a dissertation or thesis?

Looking for dissertations or theses from other universities? Many are accessible online through Dissertations and Theses Full Text. Citations with the "Full Text - PDF" link are available for download at no cost to K-State students, faculty, and staff. Electronic versions of many K-State dissertations, theses, and reports are also available free from K-State Research Exchange (K-REx).

Interlibrary Services can usually borrow dissertations and theses. When they are unable to borrow one, you may be able to purchase it by clicking on the “Order a copy” link in Dissertations and Theses - Full Text.

How can I tell if an article I want is offered in English or another language?
Most of the databases on K-State Libraries' website have a "language" field. Try clicking on the article title to see the complete information about the article. Also, in your request form you can specify acceptable languages besides English.

How can I cancel an ILL request?

To cancel an ILL request, log into Illiad, select the item request you'd like to cancel, and click the "Cancel Request" option. If you do not see this option, feel free to call us at (785) 532-7440 or send an e-mail to ill@k-state.edu.